Worry stone device and system

ABSTRACT

A worry stone system is provided. The system includes a worry stone device having an internal sensing and processing system, a user computing device, and a server having a memory storing worry stone data. The server may be programmed to receive worry stone data from the worry stone device through the user computing device in near real-time that includes contact time between the user and the worry stone device, a rate of rubbing the worry stone device, and/or a pressure used for rubbing the worry stone device. The server may process the worry stone data and send the same for display on the user computing device. The server operates to continuously process received near real-time worry stone data and send the processed worry stone data for display on the user computing device during the entire time of engagement of the worry stone device by the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application entitled“WORRY STONE DEVICE AND SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 17/201,935, filed Mar. 15,2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applicationentitled “WORRY STONE DEVICE AND SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 63/086,232, filedOct. 1, 2020, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated entirelyherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

This invention relates generally to a worry stone, and more particularlyto an electronic worry stone device that is connectable to a usercomputing device for receiving and capturing data corresponding torubbing of the worry stone device.

State of the Art

Worry stones are typically rocks, gemstones or the like and are usuallyin the shape of an oval or something similar easy to hold in the hand.Worry stones often have, but not required to have, a thumb-sizedindentation, and are generally used for relaxation or anxiety relief.They are typically used by holding the worry stone between the indexfinger and thumb and gently moving one's thumb back and forth across thestone to rub the worry stone. This action of moving one's thumb back andforth across the stone can reduce stress. The drawback of worry stonesis that the effect of use of the worry stone is not quantifiable and isleft purely to identification by the user of the worry stone.Additionally, there is no tracking of how a person engages with theworry stone, the frequency of engagement, and so forth that may bemeaningful in identifying stressors of the user and the use of the worrystone in coping with those stressors to keep anxiety at bay. There lacksa historical database of information that can be used by the user topredict or even avoid stressful situations. Such as device and systemdoes not exist.

Accordingly, there is a need for a worry stone device and system thatcan track data related to engagement with the worry stone device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electric worry stone device andsystem, wherein the worry stone device includes an internal sensing andprocessing system to sense the users engagement with the worry stonedevice, wherein the internal sensing and processing system can becoupled to a user computing device for communicating information sensedand processed by the worry stone device to the user computing device.

An embodiment includes a worry stone system comprising: a worry stonedevice having an internal sensing and processing system; a usercomputing device coupled to the worry stone device; and a server havinga memory storing worry stone data, wherein the user computing device iscoupled to the server through a connection established by an appoperating on the user computing device, and wherein the server isprogrammed to: receive a signal from the user computing device that theworry stone device is engaged by a user in response to the worry stonedevice communicating engagement by the user to the user computing deviceand the user computing device accessing the system; automaticallyprocess the signal and identify the user and any of the stored worrystone data associated with the user; receive a signal comprising nearreal-time worry stone data, wherein the near real-time worry stone datacomprises contact time between the user and the worry stone device, arate of rubbing the worry stone device, and/or a pressure used forrubbing the worry stone device; automatically process the signal andstore the worry stone data and send to the user computing device fordisplay on a screen of the user computing device a user interfaceshowing the near real-time worry stone data; and continuously receivethe signal comprising near real-time worry stone data, processing thesignal and sending the near real-time worry stone data for display onthe user computing device during the engagement of the worry stonedevice by the user.

The user may rub the worry stone device for relaxation. The user may rubthe worry stone device for stress relief. The user may rub the worrystone device for passing time. The user may rub the worry stone devicefor reducing screen time. More than one worry stone device may be used.A wearable device may be coupled to the user computing device. The worrystone device may be virtual and displayed on the screen of the usercomputing device. The worry stone device may be a key fob. The worrystone device may be coupled to a case of the user computing device. Theworry stone device may be manufactured as part of the case. The worrystone device may be coupled to the case by adhesive. The worry stonedevice may be coupled to a gear shift of a vehicle. The worry stonedevice may be textured. The texture of the worry stone device may besmooth. The texture of the worry stone device may be rough.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following more detailed description of theparticular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived byreferring to the detailed description and claims when considered inconnection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer tosimilar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 a diagrammatic view of a worry stone system according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a worry stone device and a user computingdevice operating worry stone app of a worry stone system in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a worry stone device that is a key fob inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a worry stone device that is formed in asmartphone case in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a worry stone device that is a virtual worrystone on the user computing device in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a worry stone device that is cover of a gearshift of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a front view of various textures of worry stone devices inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a worry stone device, a user computing deviceoperating worry stone app of a worry stone system and a wearable devicecoupled to the user computing device in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view of a medical waiting room for use of a worry stonesystem in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view of a social network utilization of a worry stonesystem in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a view of a user computing device of a worry stone systemshowing received worry wishes from a group of friends as depicted inFIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a view of a user computing device of a worry stone systemshowing weekly engagements of a worry stone by the user in accordancewith an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to anelectronic worry stone device and system, wherein the worry stone deviceincludes an internal sensing and processing system to sense the usersengagement with the worry stone device, wherein the internal sensing andprocessing system can be coupled to a user computing device forcommunicating information sensed and processed by the worry stone deviceto the user computing device. The system may include the use of a mobileapplication or even a web app operating on a user computing device thatmay be a mobile computing device like a smartphone, a tablet, awearable, and the like. The system may also include the use ofprogrammed instructions operating on a server and communicating with theuser computing device in order to provide functionality of the system.Embodiments may be utilized for various benefits, such as, relaxing,stress relief, passing time, reducing screen time, collectively engagingin worry stone efforts in a social network manner and the like.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a worry stonesystem 10 that includes an electronic worry stone device 12, a usercomputing device 14, and a computer server 16. The worry stone device 12may be a small portable device that includes a sensing and processingsystem 13. The sensing and processing system 13 may include one or moresensors for sensing rubbing of the worry stone device 12, contact timebetween the user and the worry stone device 12, a rate or frequency ofrubbing the worry stone device 12, a pressure used for rubbing the worrystone device, and/or the like. The sensing and processing system mayinclude internal memory and a processor, wherein the internal memoryincludes programming to process the data received from the sensors inreal-time or near real-time, save temporarily in memory and process thedata for sending to the user computing device 14. The sensing andprocessing system 13 may also include communication hardware andprotocols to couple the sensing and processing system to the usercomputing device 14. The coupling between the worry stone device 12 andthe user computing device 14 and the wearable device 18 may be awireless connection, such as, but not limited to a Bluetooth connection,a Wi-Fi connection or the like for transmission of communication betweenthe worry stone device 12 and the user computing device 14 and thewearable device 18 and the user computing device 14. The user computingdevice 14 may also be coupled to the computer server 16. The couplingbetween the user computing device 14 and the server 16 may be a networkconnection, such as through an Internet connection, wherein the usercomputing device 14 may communicate with and receive communication fromthe server 16. The user computing device 14 may include a laptop, atablet, a smartphone, wearable devices and the like. The server 16, insome embodiments, may be a computer server or a cloud-basedinfrastructure architecture.

The server 16 may include a memory storing worry stone data includinguser identification and sensed data associated with the user regardingthe user's engagement with the worry stone device 12, such as, but notlimited to, the user's rubbing of the worry stone device 12, pressureapplied during rubbing, the frequency or rate of rubbing the worry stonedevice, and the like. The worry stone data may be stored and aggregatedover time to show a history of the user and the engagement of the worrystone.

The system 10 may include use where the user rubs the worry stone toengage the worry stone for a purpose, such as, but not limited to,reducing stress, in memory or support of another and so forth. Inaccordance with this embodiment, the worry stone device 12 may becoupled to the user computing device 14, and the user computing device14 may be coupled to the server 16. Referring to FIG. 2, the server 16(not shown) may be programmed receive a signal from the user computingdevice 14 that the worry stone device 12 is engaged by a user inresponse to the worry stone device 12 communicating engagement by theuser to the user computing device 14 and the user computing device 14accessing the system 10; automatically process the signal and identifythe user and any stored worry stone data associated with the user;receive a signal comprising near real-time worry stone data, wherein thenear real-time worry stone data comprises a rate of rubbing the worrystone device 12, a pressure used for rubbing the worry stone device 12,and a total time of worry stone device 12 engagement by the user;automatically process the signal and store the worry stone data and sendto the user computing device 14 for display on a screen of the usercomputing device 14 a user interface showing the near real-time worrystone data; and continuously receive the signal comprising nearreal-time worry stone data, processing the signal and sending the nearreal-time worry stone data for display on the user computing device 14during the entire time of engagement of the worry stone device 12 by theuser. As shown in FIG. 2, worry stone data, such as, but not limited to,frequency of rubbing the worry stone device 12, pressure used duringrubbing and total time of engagement with the worry stone device 12 maybe depicted.

The worry stone device 12 may come in various forms and each may beutilized by any user within the worry stone system 10. For example, theworry stone may be a key fob, as shown in FIG. 3, allowing the user tocontinually have the worry stone in his or her pocket or purse whilecarrying keys. Another example is a worry stone device 12 coupled to acase 15 of a user computing device 14, as shown in FIG. 4. This may be asmartphone 14 and the stone may be coupled to the case 15, suchmanufactured as part of the case 15, coupled to it by adhesive or otherform of coupling and so forth. Another example, as shown in FIG. 6, is aworry stone device 12 coupled to a gear shift of a vehicle, wherein theworry sone device 12 is available to rub during driving, such as instressful driving conditions like rush hour or the like. It will beunderstood that these are just examples of various forms of a worrystone device 12 and should not be considered a limitation. Further,various textures of a worry stone device is contemplated, as depicted inFIG. 7, wherein the worry stone device 12 may be any type of texture orlevel of smoothness/roughness as represented by the various textures inFIG. 7.

Further still, the worry stone device 12 may be a virtual worry stonedevice 12 as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the user can have the stonedisplayed on a screen of the user computing device 14 and rub the screenin order to rub the virtual stone. It will be understood that in theseembodiments, the native sensors of the user computing device 14 may beutilized to operate in the manner that the sensing and processing system13 does within a physical worry stone device 12. The user computingdevice 14 sensors may operate to sense and produce worry stone data thatincludes rubbing of the worry stone device 12, contact time between theuser and the worry stone device 12, a rate or frequency of rubbing theworry stone device 12, a pressure used for rubbing the worry stonedevice, and/or the like. The system 10 may operate in the same manner asif using a physical worry stone device 12.

Referring to the drawings again, FIG. 8 depicts the worry stone system10 that may also include a wearable device 18 coupled to the usercomputing device 14. The wearable device 18 may provide additional userbiometric data, such as, but not limited to, heart rate, blood oxygenlevel, electrocardiogram results, sleep data and the like. Some or allof this biometric data may be stored by the system 10 as worry stonedata. The biometric data from the wearable device 18 may be aggregatedwith the sensed data from the worry stone device 12 and may be utilizedby system 10 to identify correlations between rubbing of the worry stonedevice 12 and the effect that has on the biometric data collected fromthe wearable device 18. An example is depicted in FIG. 8, wherein thewearable device 18 is sending a biometric data of heartrate to the usercomputing device 14. This is collected in addition to the worry stonedata, such as frequency of rubbing the stone, pressure used for rubbingand total time of rubbing the worry stone device 12. A stressfulsituation experienced by a user, such as, but not limited to, waiting ina waiting room to see a doctor, as shown in FIG. 9, often results in theuser's body releasing adrenaline, that temporarily causes the user'sbreathing and heart rate to speed up and the user's blood pressure torise. The user can then monitor his or her heart rate and the effect ofthe rubbing the worry stone device 12 has on the heart rate, which maybe an indicator of the stress the user's body is feeling due to thestressful situation. The user may then have a historical record of thefrequency, pressure and duration of rubbing the worry stone device 12 todeal with the stressful situations. This also allow the system 10 toutilize machine learning, wherein in some embodiments, the server may beprogrammed to analyze the historical aggregate worry stone data andbiometric data stored in memory of the server 16 and predict and suggesta frequency, pressure and duration of rubbing the worry stone device 12by the user in order to deal with the stress based on the heart rateand/or other biometric data collected. This suggested engagement of theworry stone device 12 may be sent from the server for display on theuser computing device 14. In embodiments, the server 16 may alert theuser computing device 14 when the biometric data is at a level of low ornormal stress. Such a system may require the collection of biometricdata from the wearable device 18 at times of no or little stress inorder to set a baseline or reference value for each of the biometricdata collected.

The system 10 may include an opportunity for the user to review his orher use of the worry stone device 12. FIG. 12 depicts a user computingdevice 14 depicting a weekly summary of the user's contact with theworry stone device 12. For example, the user may have spent a total of129 minutes contacting his worry stone device 12. That total time may bedepicted along with a breakdown of the total time, such as, but notlimited to 29 minutes relaxing, 20 minutes sending well wishes to afriend in surgery, 16 minutes rooting for the Denver Broncos duringovertime, 31 minutes reducing stress and 32 minutes passing time orfidgeting. It will be appreciated that the user ribbing his worry stonedevice 12 results in a reduced use of the user computing device 14,thereby reducing the screen time of the user, providing a dual benefitof relaxing or reducing stress and reducing screen time.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is a social networking aspect to a worrystone system 10. As shown in FIG. 10, a group of individuals such asfriend group 20 may engage with each socially on the worry stone app.FIG. 10 depicts one such social engagement wherein one of the members ofthe friend group 20 that is associated with the user computing device 14depicted in the drawing is undergoing surgery. The friend group 20 mayengage in a group worry stone session in an effort to send well wishesto the friend undergoing surgery. The server 16 may be programmed tosend a message from the friend group 20 to the user computing device 14having surgery and depict the names and time of those engaged in thegroup worry session. Further, referring to FIG. 11, the server 16 may beprogrammed to send for display on the user computing device 14 a timethat the friend group 20 were engaged in the worry stone session sendingwell wishes, wherein it can display a total time of a group worry stonesession, and may display the time each individual of the group hasrubbed his or her own worry stone. This is just an example of one way ofutilizing the system 10 in a social network capacity.

While it has been shown and described that the system includes a server16, it will be understood that the user computing device 14 may operatewithout connection to a server 16, wherein the user computing device 14is programmed to perform the same function as the server 16 and have amemory that stores the same data (worry stone data and biometric data)as the server 16 stores. The system would then be the worry stone device12 and mobile computing device 14 with an optional wearable device 18.

Embodiments may be available on or through the internet, such as throughdomain names reserved and owned by Applicant that include worryfob.com,worryrub.com, worryphone.com, phone-stone.com, stone2phone.com,worrycircle.com or the like.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method, or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wire-line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object-oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer,special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processingapparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, whichexecute via the processor of the computer or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, cloud-based infrastructurearchitecture, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps tobe performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or otherdevices to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order tobest explain the present invention and its practical application and tothereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use theinvention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat the foregoing description and examples have been presented for thepurposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forthis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit andscope of the forthcoming claims.

1. A worry stone system comprising: a worry stone device having aninternal sensing and processing system for sensing worry stone data,wherein the worry stone device is a physical device; a user computingdevice coupled to the worry stone device; and a server having a memorystoring the worry stone data and biometric data, wherein the usercomputing device is coupled to the server through a connectionestablished by an app operating on the user computing device, andwherein the server is programmed to: receive a signal from the usercomputing device that the worry stone device is engaged by a user inresponse to the worry stone device communicating engagement by the userto the user computing device and the user computing device accessing theworry stone system; automatically process the signal and identify theuser and any of the stored worry stone data associated with the user;receive a signal comprising near real-time worry stone data, wherein thenear real-time worry stone data comprises contact time between the userand the worry stone device, a rate of rubbing the worry stone device,and a pressure used for rubbing the worry stone device; automaticallyprocess the signal and store the worry stone data and send to the usercomputing device for display on a screen of the user computing device auser interface showing the near real-time worry stone data; andcontinuously receive the signal comprising the near real-time worrystone data, processing the signal and sending the near real-time worrystone data for display on the user computing device during theengagement of the worry stone device by the user, wherein the server isprogrammed to analyze the stored worry stone data and biometric data inthe memory of the server and predict and suggest the duration ofrubbing, the rate of rubbing, and the pressure used for rubbing theworry stone device by the user.
 2. The worry stone system of claim 1,wherein the user rubs the worry stone device for relaxation.
 3. Theworry stone system of claim 1, wherein the user rubs the worry stonedevice for stress relief.
 4. The worry stone system of claim 1, whereinthe user rubs the worry stone device for passing time.
 5. The worrystone system of claim 1, wherein the user rubs the worry stone devicefor reducing screen time.
 6. The worry stone system of claim 1, furthercomprising more than worry stone device.
 7. The worry stone system ofclaim 1, further comprising a wearable device coupled to the usercomputing device, wherein the wearable device supplies the biometricdata.
 8. The worry stone system of claim 1, wherein, the worry stonedevice is a key fob.
 9. The worry stone system of claim 1, wherein theworry stone device is coupled to a case of the user computing device.10. The worry stone system of claim 10, wherein the worry stone deviceis manufactured as part of the case.
 11. The worry stone system of claim10, wherein the worry stone device is coupled to the case by adhesive.12. The worry stone system of claim 1, wherein the worry stone device iscoupled to a gear shift of a vehicle.
 13. The worry stone system ofclaim 1, wherein the worry stone device is textured.
 14. The worry stonesystem of claim 14, wherein the texture of the worry stone device issmooth.
 15. The worry stone system of claim 14, wherein the texture ofthe worry stone device is rough.
 16. The worry stone system of claim 1,wherein the suggestion is sent from the server for display on the usercomputing device.
 17. The worry stone system of claim 1, wherein theserver alerts the user computing device when the biometric data is at apredetermined level of stress.